Lindsay Bayne
Dragon Gym Black Belt Test 1st Dan Essay
What does becoming a Dragon Gym Black Belt mean to you?
When I first walked into Dragon Gym, my hands were shaking. My feet were cold against the mats, and slid quietly to the back corner, hoping to go unnoticed. I folded my legs and tried to steady my hands, fiddling with my belt. I could see my reflection in the dojang mirror. I remember feeling embarrassed, afraid to try something new; afraid that I would fail, or worse, make a fool of myself trying. I wanted so badly for those mats to be familiar, to know when to bow and what to say, to understand the Korean commands. When the class began, I tiptoed to the back of the line, so uncertain and self-conscious, praying my toes would guide me to where I was supposed to be. I was so worried that I might seem disrespectful. I bowed low, my arms stiff at my sides.
It’s difficult to imagine my life before Taekwondo. In the beginning, I didn’t really know what my belt meant. I think I saw it as a clean slate. It was a chance for me to accomplish something. I saw the black belt as a challenge; a test for me to stick with Taekwondo despite my uncertainty, because I knew deep down, even that first night, that it would be something I would love.
Four years have passed, and things look so different now. Reflecting in the dojang mirror, I no longer see an uneasy girl with shaking hands. Instead, I see confidence, discipline, control, and determination. I’m not sure when it happened, but something shifted. Dragon Gym became my home. Taekwondo transformed from recreation to a lifestyle. Through all the high-fives, the teamwork, and the encouragement, the friends I had made became family, whose support and friendship I will always cherish. Taekwondo became something I could never live without.
I believe that this test is an opportunity for reflection, realizing how much I have learned and how far I have come. It’s a chance for me use and show what I have learned, and to thank everyone who has helped me get to where I am today. It’s an opportunity to express gratitude to all of my instructors, who have taught me so much, not only about Taekwondo, but about myself. I would not be who I am today without them, and I hope that I will continue to grow under their direction. With their guidance, I have learned that it is possible to push myself farther, and that limits are transcendent. They have given me confidence, strength, endurance, and perseverance, and for that I am infinitely grateful. I can only hope that I can give back what I have learned, and that I can make them proud.
These four years have been difficult, but I would not change a minute of them—not the circular pushups, not the scorching summer days, not the countless times I have slammed into the mats. Every accomplishment and mistake has served as a lesson learned, and I think that in coming this far, the journey to this moment has become more significant than the end. Today, becoming a Dragon Gym black belt means more to me than I ever could have imagined as that nervous white belt sitting cross-legged in the back of the gym. I see becoming a black belt as a stepping stone—an affirmation that I have made it this far, but also a launchpad for my future in Taekwondo. It’s a forward motion, and I cannot wait to continue to grow. Coming this far has been both a challenge and a blessing. Taekwondo is, and will always be, a challenge for me to live my life as a better person—to respect and live for others, to respect myself and lead a healthy lifestyle, and to push myself beyond any boundaries. The challenge itself is a joy and a blessing, and in this I find incalculable happiness. Taekwondo has changed my life in countless and invaluable ways, and it’s something that I carry with me wherever I go. Becoming a black belt is a reminder that in my thoughts, words, actions, and training, Taekwondo is always with me, defining who I am and who I hope to be.
